"In the era of slow play...Haas' money shot should be heralded as a triumph of instinct, preparation and under-analysis."

He might be using hyperbole to make a point (I know nothing about that), but Scott Michaux ranks Bill Haas' playoff shot as the greatest ever because of the appropriate amount of time he took to play it. Michaux clocks it at 55 seconds, but when you watch the YouTube version, it seems faster considering the circumstances.

In the era of slow play that seems to get slower and slower by the day (did anyone happen to notice the five-and-a-half-hour rounds that the women were taking to complete alternate-shot matches in the simultaneously contested Solheim Cup this weekend?), Haas' money shot should be heralded as a triumph of instinct, preparation and under-analysis.

Comments

[Ivan Morris]

Well said, Scott Michaux. I was thinking exactly the same thing myself. After taking forever on most of her shots, Julie Inkster did something similar in the Slow-heim Cup when her back was to the wall in that greenside trap at Killeen Castle - see the shot and just do it!

[Bob S.]

Unlike most of the Hunter Mahan shots where the caddie got more mic time then Johnny Miller ...

[No longer Used to be Former S & T Convert]

His pace of play all day was outstanding. When put into context, this shot has to be in any conversation for all time greatest.

Can an expert on "impact dynamics" explain how he put spin on that shot? I have seen a lot of shots from the water over the years and that was the first one I have ever seen check up.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Outstanding in every way! Ball is in your court, so to speak, Tiger. Do the right thing. If you know what I mean.

[Randall]

I also liked how he did it without donning rain gear, going barefoot, rolling up pants, etc.

He just hit the ball, what a concept!

[Moi]

For sure, one of the greatest golf shots I've ever seen. Not only technically but also mentally, for 11 million reasons

[RM]

the opposite of "paralysis by analysis". bill haas is my new hero!

[FWIW]

The 55-second clock started the instant he slapped his hands together when he first saw his ball in the water and including everything from then to club hitting water. The actual taking of the shot was even faster than Rory McIlroy - about 17 seconds from the time he set foot in the water to impact.

[CM]

It appears from the time the caddie set the bag down to impact was 48 seconds. Subtract 5 seconds for the time spent reparing his pitch mark. 43 seconds to play the shot of his life. Wow! (Good think the caddie didn't have to stand behind him to line up the shot, like we saw in Ireland.)

[FWIW]

CM. He would have drowned.

[smails]

yup. best ever. better than hogan's one iron at merion, better than Tiger's chip in at the Masters, better than Leonard's putt at Brookline. Oh yeah, better than that shot sarazen hit at some event in Augusta GA that wasnt even a major thn.

[LiquidKaos]

@Smails -

It was a 2i for Hogan, lol. :) How about Watson's chip on 17 @ Pebble?


-LK

[Brian S]

I wonder if part of what made him move so fast was fear that the ball would move due to his standing in the water, causing ripples, etc?

[grr]

unbelievable shot. and i'm just asking: could there have been some luck involved?

[OWGR Fan]

Had Haas hit it to 20 feet while playing that quick he would have been ripped for playing to fast. Probably by some of the same folks praising him now. ;-)

[rb]

Great shot...too bad nobody saw it.

[chicago pt]

thanks smails for providing some sanity...a great shot yes but talk about getting carried away..

[jeff]

The point being made is well taken. There is a bright line dividing players anymore, much like Raslin' back in the 70's...heroes and villains. Slow is bad and fast is good. Fast play leading to a cool 11 mil has to be applauded. It wasn't only to water shot. The kid plays briskly. Makes you almost want to forgive the belly putter.

[?]

"money shot"

[johnnnycz]

I can't believe how that ball hit the green took one hop and stopped....never seen that before. Those guys MUST be good!

[Del the Funk]

Pros eat really firm bunkers alive. The ground underneath that ball was just like that. While visually distracting the water was no physical impediment whatsoever. The divot he left looked exactly like that from a really firm bunker and the ball reacted exactly the same as well. A bunker shot from really firm conditions is something a tour pro can execute in his sleep.

grr, yes a tremendous amount of luck involved. Lucky his shot into the stands on playoff hole #1 ended up in an entirely playable spot. Lucky his tee shot on playoff hole #2 ended up in a perfectly playable lie. Lucky that his shot into the hazard ended up in a perfectly playable spot.

For all three of those huge strokes of luck to happen consecutively, well the odds are about like winning the lottery -- which is exactly what happened.

9 parts luck, 1 part skill.

[johnnnycz]

@Del....yes he was fortunate to be able to play from where he hit the ball in the playoff...but saying it was 90% luck that he won is over-cooking the bird so to speak. Luck (good or bad) has always been a part of the game considering we play outdoors and on a random/chaotic terrain from a golf ball's perspective.

I'm from the school of thought that you make your own luck. "The more I practice, the luckier I get" is a Hogan mantra...those guys are just amazing golfers in all respects.. I consider myself a fairly "lucky" golfer. When my ball gets away from me and hits a tree...squirrels seem to be friendly and throw it where I can usually advance my ball towards the green...It doesn't always happen..but more often than not...it does.